The Indiana Pacers (4-2) are in the Big Easy Monday to play the New Orleans Pelicans (4-2) at Smoothie King Center. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Pacers-Pelicans NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions
The Pacers were upset 106-102 as 9.5-point home favorites by the New York Knicks Saturday. Indiana had a hard time getting easy buckets shooting 40.5% from the field. The Pacers were outscored 56-26 in the paint, and were out-rebounded 60-37.
New Orleans gritted its way past the Toronto Raptors at home. The Pelicans 120-116, as 1-point dogs Saturday. They outrebounded the Raptors 67-46 and shot 20 more free throws. Their leading scorer this season, SF Brandon Ingram, had a game-high 31 points on 8-for-17 field-goal shooting and 11-for-14 from the foul line.
The Pelicans won and covered in both meetings last year: 124-117 as 5-point underdogs in Indiana and 120-98 at home as 1.5-point home favorites.
Pacers at Pelicans: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Pacers +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Pelicans -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Pacers +1.5 (-110) | Pelicans -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 216.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Pacers at Pelicans: Key Injuries
Pacers
- SG Jeremy Lamb (knee) out
- SF T.J. Warren (foot) out
Pelicans
- None affecting the betting lines.
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Pacers at Pelicans: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Pacers 115, Pelicans 108
Money line (ML)
This is a perfect spot to sell-high with the Pelicans and buy-low with the Pacers. The Pelicans’ rebounding edge for the season is scary but aside from their two wins over a Raptors team—whose legitimacy as an Eastern Conference contender is on stand-by—New Orleans has been rolled by the other good teams it played.
Indiana has a higher net rating and a positive net in effective field-goal percentage (.561 offensive eFG% vs. .534 defensive eFG%) whereas New Orleans has a negative net eFG%.
GIMME PACERS (+105) for 1.5 units.
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS ON THE SPREAD. I’ll forgo the measly 1.5 points of Indiana insurance and use my Pacers-Pelicans budget on the money line.
Over/Under (O/U)
If you haven’t been paying attention, this Indiana team has mutated its style under first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren. The Pacers are sixth in offensive rating this season (19th in 2019-20) and are up from being dead-last in 3-point rate last season to a modest 18th under Bjorkgren.
Also, I don’t put much stock into New Orleans’ third-ranked defensive rating because three of its opponents (Raptors, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder) are among the least efficient offenses in the NBA.
I’ll TAKE OVER 216.5 (-115) for 1 unit.
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